APPLICATION OF GARRET RANKING TECHNIQUE FOR ANALYSIS THE BENEFITS OF LAKES RESTORATION IN COIMBATORE CITY

Abstract

Lakes is one of the most important freshwater ecosystems, it was directly or indirectly ensuring a range of benefits and services to human well-being, in that recreational benefits are one of the key ecosystem services that can be enhanced by lake restoration. Lake recreational benefits to visitors are enjoying the nature with family and friends, good place for relaxation, enjoy the aesthetic view, boating rides, various benefits and facilities are available in the lakes. The Periyakulam/Ukkdam lake and Valukaulam lake in Coimbatore city have been chosen for this study. The convenience sampling technique was adopted to confirm the sample size of visitors, and selected the 150 sample visitors from Ukkadam lake and 100 sample visitors from Valankulam. This study analyzes the after lake restoration, visitors preference for benefits and facilities available in the lakes, and factors affects the visitors to enjoy the recreational benefits of lakes. The Garrett’s Ranking technique was used for analyse the visitor’s preferences. The study found out that visitors are given the first preference for spending weekend time for visiting lakes with friends and family and they feel lake was good place for relaxation, taking photos in different view of lakes and enjoy the aesthetic view of lake. Therefore, the Lake restoration was more benefited to visitors for enjoy the recreational benefits of lakes, although the visitors are feel some disturbance. The Corporation City Municipal Corporation should take necessary steps for proper maintenance and parking facilities, etc., it will help to increase visitation rate and visitors continuously enjoy the recreational benefits from lakes.